New cancer facility expected to cost K75mil

ESTABLISHING a new cancer treatment facility in Lae is expected to cost up to K75 million which is more than what the Government is allocating, an official says.
Morobe health authority board chairman David Wissink said the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd (KPHL) was keen to support cancer treatment services in Lae.
“I have met with KPHL representatives and thanked them for their interest in supporting cancer treatment services,” he said.
“We do not need funding to refurbish the current facility but we will be counting on them (KPHL) and other partners when the new facility is established to cost between K50 million and K75 million.”
He said the Government had allocated “far short” of that amount.
Angau Memorial Hospital acting chief executive officer Grant Muddle is handling the planning for the Morobe cancer unit. It is no longer called the PNG National Cancer Centre which used to be “remotely” controlled by the Health Department in Port Moresby.
Wissink said Minister for Health and HIV-AIDS Elias Kapavore had handed over the cancer centre to the Morobe health authority six weeks ago.
He said Muddle was drawing up a plan to restore cancer services which was endorsed by Kapavore.
It includes assessing old equipment and acquiring a new cobalt source.
“At the same time we are about to renovate the present cancer facility, employ a radiation oncologist and source chemotherapy drugs,” Wissink said.
“If all goes well with the assessment and sourcing of cobalt, the Morobe cancer unit should be fully operational by the end of October.”